Residents Urged to Thouroughly Clean Bird Feeders
Over the past few weeks, Northern Michigan residents have found an increasing number of dead birds at feeders. A strain of Salmonella may be to blame. The bacteria is carried by Pine Siskins, Redpolls,Goldfinches and other members of the finch family and is transmitted through the birds' droppings.
A harsh winter has lead to limited food in Canada for Pine Siskins, leading to a population explosion in Northern Michigan this season. As birds crowd around bird feeders, they pick up the bacteria, which is then spread to other birds at other feeders.
Judy Barrett, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Traverse City, says the deaths will be on-going until the migration is over later this spring, but residents can help reduce the spread of the Salmonella by thouroughly cleaning bird feeders.
To start, Barrett recommends soaking the feaders in a grease-cutting cleaning solution (like Simple Green). The feeder must then be scrubbed with a brush and rinsed in a bleach solution. The solution should be 10% bleach and 90% water. Feeders must be rinsed thouroughly.
Feeders should be cleaned once or twice a week, according to Barrett, and the area below and around the bird feeder must be cleared of all droppings and seed shells.
Sick birds have a puffy appearance and are more approachable than healthy birds. If you find a sick or dead bird in your yard, Barrett says you should not touch it. Salmonella may be transmitted by skin contact. If you do handle the bird, wash your hands thouroughly with soap and water immediately to prevent the spread of the bacteria.
Wild Birds Unlimited will clean your bird feeders for you for a small fee. For more information you can check out www.wbu.com or call the Traverse City store at 231-946-0431
